After achieving a major breakthrough in scientific research, I began preparing to pursue further studies abroad.

The research institute at my university repeatedly urged me to stay, even offering me an honorary professorship.

Out of consideration for old ties, I agreed on the condition that they build a laboratory worth hundreds of millions of dollars within the institute.

When the lab was finally completed, I went to inspect it, only to be stunned.

The entire room was draped in white gauze and wreaths, while delicate instruments lay scattered carelessly on the floor.

Then, a dead mouse rested right in the middle of the sterile table.

Suppressing my nausea, I reached out to throw the carcass away. But a junior suddenly rushed out, blocking my way. “What are you doing to Sissy?”

Still forcing down my disgust, I asked coldly, “This is my lab. Why is it full of this nonsense?”

She flew into a rage. “Your lab? Zack said this room is my lounge! Show some respect, this is Sissy’s funeral hall! He has to spend the last seven days of his life here! If you don’t like it, then just put up with it!”

I sneered and immediately called my boyfriend, Zack Gilbert. “Who gave you the right to turn my laboratory into a funeral hall for a dead mouse?”

——

Zack’s cold voice came from the other end of the line. “Wait.”

Then he hung up.

Xaviera’s eyes glimmered with contempt. “So you’re the old woman who keeps pestering him so shamelessly. Do you really think he’ll listen to you?”

The anger I had been holding back flared up instantly. “Who are you calling shameless?! You’re the one who ruined my equipment!”

These instruments had been shipped from overseas at enormous cost. Every time I used them, I had to wear gloves and handle them with extreme care, just to keep their precision intact.

Now they had been tossed to the floor like worthless junk and my heart ached as if it were bleeding.

Xaviera rolled her eyes in disdain. “I’m talking to you, you pathetic hag clinging to him! I haven’t even blamed you for this pile of junk cluttering up the room and yet you’re the first to complain.”

I was shaking with rage. “This is my lab. Why wouldn’t my instruments be here?”

She scoffed, nudging another instrument with her foot. “Who do you think you are? Do you really think you deserve this? Zack only let you borrow the place for two days and you actually treat it like it’s yours?”

I frowned, ready to fire back, when the door was suddenly flung open.

Before I could speak, Xaviera hurried forward, looking pitiful and clung to Zack’s sleeve. “Zack, she told me to get out. She said this is her lab. And Sissy… my poor Sissy… I’m already heartbroken and now this woman…”

Zack’s face darkened and the next moment he roared at me, “Don’t be so difficult! How dare you bully a junior? What do you mean by ‘your lab’? Is your name written on it?”

Then he turned to Xaviera and ordered coldly, “Xaviera, use it however you want. This place is perfect for Sissy’s funeral. If she doesn’t like it, just throw her out! Who told her to? She’s the one with bad habits!”

With someone backing her, Xaviera’s expression turned smug. I hadn’t expected Zack to be so brazen and I tried to argue. “Zack, are you even being reasonable? It’s clearly—”

Before I could finish, Xaviera suddenly stepped forward holding the dead mouse. “It’s all my fault, Heidi. I apologize… on Sissy’s behalf.”

The moment the furry body brushed against me, my scalp prickled in disgust. I screamed and shoved it away. Xaviera’s eyes instantly reddened as her precious pet was pushed aside.

“Poor Sissy. Even in death, it’s treated so cruelly. Heidi, you hate it so much… did you poison it? No wonder Sissy died just days after we moved in. You’re heartless!” Xaviera accused.

Before I could even speak, Zack’s face darkened. His voice was icy. “Heidi, I can see it clearly, it’s all your fault. Apologize. Now!”

I almost laughed at the absurdity. There was no way I could possibly listen to them.

Suddenly, Zack seized my wrist, pinning me in place. Xaviera snatched up the dead rat, pressed it against my head and hissed, “Apologize for what you did!”

The instant the stiffened body brushed my skin, I lost control and screamed. From outside, Professor Laird’s voice called sharply, “What’s going on in there? What’s with all the noise?”

Terrified of rats, I abandoned all composure and shouted, “Professor Laird, help me!”

The door swung open and Professor Laird froze, stunned by the sight before her. “What on earth are you doing?”

Xaviera blinked, then burst into tears. “Professor Laird, Heidi insists this lab belongs only to her and none of us are worthy to use it! She even poisoned my Sissy!”

I was stunned by her blatant lie and rushed to defend myself. “That’s not true!”

But Professor Laird waved me off impatiently. “Enough! I’m not here to hear excuses. I don’t care about your grudges. Heidi, apologize to Xaviera. Right now.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “She turned my lab into a funeral hall for a rat! Why should I apologize to her?”

Professor Laird sneered. “I heard you’ve already applied to suspend your experiments. I’ve seen people like you before. And you still dare to ask why? Someone like you, contributing nothing to the institute, living idly while waiting for death, what right do you have to demand answers?”

I clenched my fists. I had suspended my experiments only to pursue new research and I had already planned to leave.

If the dean hadn’t begged me three times a day to stay on as an honorary professor—even at his advanced age—I would never have remained here.

As for contributions… no one in this institute had given more than I had.

It was because of me that its research and technology had reached world-class standards. Because of me, the university had secured countless top-tier resources.

Even this very laboratory existed only thanks to the donation of the world-renowned Bulwark Group.

Yet Professor Laird looked me up and down with nothing but disdain. Then, turning toward Xaviera, her expression shifted in an instant, breaking into a warm smile.

“Xaviera, how’s your dance rehearsal coming along? I heard the Bulwark Group will arrive today and tomorrow is the official welcome ceremony. That’ll be your moment. I’m certain your performance will amaze everyone and bring great honor to the school.”

“I’ve been ready,” she said proudly, then let her smile falter with a touch of sorrow. “But after the way she shrieked at me today… I feel so upset. It’s making me lose all focus on my performance.”

Zack immediately added, “If you upset Xaviera and she fails at the welcome party and the Bulwark Group takes offense, you’ll be guilty for life!”

Professor Laird’s expression shifted at once.

She dug her long, crimson-painted nails into my scalp and barked, “Apologize! Now! You’re nothing but a troublemaker. I don’t expect you to bring any honor to the institute, just don’t do anything foolish and that will be enough!”

I couldn’t stand their nonsense any longer and snapped, “Bulwark Group evaluates investments based on the strength of a research institute’s talent, not on contributions measured by singing and dancing.”

Professor Laird, livid, shoved me so hard I stumbled and fell to the floor. “Asshole! You dare talk back to me? Today it’s a rat you poison, tomorrow it’ll be your colleagues! How can I allow someone as radical and unstable as you to remain here, endangering the institute? I’ll report you to the dean!”

The three of them were clearly in cahoots and I shouted back, “Do you even hear yourself? You’re twisting right and wrong!”

Professor Laird’s face darkened, her voice dropping into a growl. “You refuse to see your mistakes. Then you’ll pay for them.”

At her slight nod, Xaviera lunged forward, yanking my hair and slapping me hard across the face. “You killed Sissy and you dared to destroy her memorial? Today, you’ll pay your respects in mourning clothes!”

Pain shot through my scalp, but I gritted my teeth and clawed her hand away. She sneered and tore at my clothes, exposing me. “Red underwear? Really? On Sissy’s death anniversary? You must be mocking her on purpose! From now on, you’ll wear black and mourn for her properly!”

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway and fear rooted me in place.

Xaviera yanked the curtains down and hurled them at me. “You’re only fit to wear this today!”

When I dodged and refused to comply, she kicked the door wide open, exposing everything inside. “Everyone, come and see! Heidi’s being punished for poisoning small animals. She’ll mourn here for seven days and seven nights!”

Countless curious eyes turned toward us. My hands trembled as I hastily pulled the curtain over my body.

Xaviera only sneered. “Bitch! Didn’t you say you wouldn’t wear it just now? Do you realize your mistake now? If you admit you were wrong, bow three times to Sissy.”

Bow to a mouse? Impossible. Humiliation burned through me and my voice quivered. “You barged in and wrecked my lab, how is that my fault?”

Xaviera rolled her eyes with scorn. “Why don’t you just claim the whole building is yours?”

“It was indeed donated to me,” I answered honestly, but my words only drew another round of laughter.

Professor Laird’s face twisted in disgust. “How many times have I told you, these are public resources! Do you really think this is your private home?”

Zack shook his head, feigning helplessness. “You’ll never change. Being tied to you is the greatest embarrassment of my life.”

Xaviera’s eyes gleamed with malice. “Since you refuse to admit your mistakes and still insist all this belongs to you, then you killed my Sissy, you’ll need to pay for it!”

A wave of dread washed over me.

Sure enough, Xaviera let out a mocking chuckle, lifted one of the instruments and raised it high as if to smash it onto the floor.

My eyelids twitched and I cried out, “Stop! These are imported precision instruments, the cheapest costs over a million! Even if you had the money, it wouldn’t matter. Do you understand the consequences?”

But Xaviera only sneered, brushing off my warning. “Heidi, stop acting so pretentious! Every lab has equipment like this. Who are you trying to fool?”

I forced myself to stay calm, though my heart was lodged in my throat.